The article "Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning: towards a global synthesis" by Eldridge et al. examines the effects of woody plant encroachment into grasslands on ecosystem processes and functions. The authors use univariate analyses, meta-analysis, and structural equation modeling to test two main propositions: 1) shrub encroachment does not necessarily lead to declines in ecosystem functions, and 2) shrub traits influence the functional outcome of encroachment. They analyze 43 ecosystem attributes from 244 case studies worldwide, finding that some attributes consistently increased (e.g., soil C, N), while others declined (e.g., grass cover, pH), but most exhibited variable responses. Traits of shrubs were associated with significant but weak structural and functional outcomes of encroachment. The review reveals that encroachment has mixed effects on ecosystem structure and functioning at global scales, and that shrub traits influence the functional outcome of encroachment. The authors conclude that the common link between shrub encroachment and degradation is not universal and that the term "shrub encroachment" should be decoupled from the concept of degradation. They propose a new global conceptual model that considers the outcomes of shrub encroachment based on community or societal values, shrub traits, and functional and structural components.The article "Impacts of shrub encroachment on ecosystem structure and functioning: towards a global synthesis" by Eldridge et al. examines the effects of woody plant encroachment into grasslands on ecosystem processes and functions. The authors use univariate analyses, meta-analysis, and structural equation modeling to test two main propositions: 1) shrub encroachment does not necessarily lead to declines in ecosystem functions, and 2) shrub traits influence the functional outcome of encroachment. They analyze 43 ecosystem attributes from 244 case studies worldwide, finding that some attributes consistently increased (e.g., soil C, N), while others declined (e.g., grass cover, pH), but most exhibited variable responses. Traits of shrubs were associated with significant but weak structural and functional outcomes of encroachment. The review reveals that encroachment has mixed effects on ecosystem structure and functioning at global scales, and that shrub traits influence the functional outcome of encroachment. The authors conclude that the common link between shrub encroachment and degradation is not universal and that the term "shrub encroachment" should be decoupled from the concept of degradation. They propose a new global conceptual model that considers the outcomes of shrub encroachment based on community or societal values, shrub traits, and functional and structural components.